Self-closing powder can



March 28, 1950 R. NYDEN ET AL SELF-CLOSING POWDER CAN Filed July 6, 1945 IN V EN TORJ 305527 HYDE/7 I 4/7550 rug M M m m 0 K Y m H Patented Mar. 2S, 1950 SELF-CLOSING POWDER CAN I Robert Nyden, Manhasset, and Harry K. Dickerman, Buffalo, N; Y., assignors to F. N. Burt Company, inc, Buflalo, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 6, 1945, Serial No. 603.5 17

3: Claims. (01. 222-511) This invention relates to improvements in containers or powder cans of the type in which the main body portion is constructed of paperboard, pasteboard, fiberboard and like material, with a dispensing end closure structure of metal, and more particularly it relates to an improved closure device for controlling dispensing of the container contents.

It is a general object of the invention to provide for containers of the class mentioned, an improved dispensing closure making a tight antisift joint preventing leakage, that can be quickly and easily installed on the body of the container and that can be manufactured in large quantities by automatic machinery under factory methods and at low production costs.

A further and more particular object of the invention is to provide for containers of the class mentioned, an improved dispensing closure device that automatically returns to closed position to make a tight sealing joint after it has been opened for dispensing a portion of the container contents.

A further object of the invention is to provide for containers of the class mentioned, a dispensing closure device having an improved closuremember readily conformable to its seat in the head or end structure of the container, and embodying a supporting plate specially constructed to improve its flexibility and confcrmability.

Another object is to provide for containers of the class mentioned, an improved dispensing closure device operable either for automatic closing of the closure device and being convertible for manual operation in both opening and closing movements. 4

Other objects of the invention will be in part pointed out in the following detailed description of certain illustrative but preferred embodiments of the invention, and will be. in part obvious as the disclosure proceeds.

The invention accordingly comprises-the. iea-. tures of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exem-. plified. in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in-the claims.

For a more comprehensive disclosure. oixthe nature, objects and advantages of the invention,

reference is hadto the following detailed descrip- 1 Fig. 3'is a central vertical enlarged section of the top or dispensing-closure of the container;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the closure structure as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a central vertical section similar to that of Fig. 3, but showing a slightly modified embodiment; and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fi 5.

Referring to the drawing fora detailed description of the illustrative embodiments of the invention' there shown, and first to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3' and 4, the body or side-walls l of the container are ordinarily constructed'of cardboard, pasteboard, or other materials above suggested, but insofar as the present invention is concerned these container side walls may be constructed of metal or any other suitable material. Although the Walls I are herein disclosed as being circular in cross section, any other suitable shape may be employed. The bottom 2 maybe constructed of metal or other suitable material and is ordinarily engaged in tight fitting relation in the lower end of the tubular body portion.

The upper wall portion or end closure 3 ofthe container is also preferably constructed of sheet metal or other strong sheet material, and is formed with a depending skirt flange i adapted to fit closely in sealing anti-sift relation with the upper end of the wall I of the body portion. This skirt flange may be provided with any suitable ineans for holding it in its operative orassembled position so as to prevent accidental separation from the container body and to form a tight anti-sift joint, but since these featuresdo not form a particular part of the present invention, it is deemed unnecessary to disclose them. Above the skirt flange 4, the end wall portion or closure 3 is preferably outwardly domed at 5 so as to form, as shown in the illustrative embodimenh substantially spherical inner and outer; surfaces. At the juncture of the domed portion of the end closure and the skirt flange 4 a crimp or bend ii is formed in the closure member so as to provide an outwardly disposed rib or flange spring later described; The domed portion 5' of the end closure is provided with a dispensing opening which may be either a single opening 8, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or aplurallty-of small" openings as shown in Fig. 6. The domed portion 5 of the closure member is also provided with an attaching opening 9 for the dispensing closure structure, said opening being in the form of an elongated slot.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the movable dispensing closure member I includes an inner attaching and supporting member or disc II preferably constructed of sheet metal or similar resilient material and having a centrally disposed attaching opening I2 adjacent to which are resilient inwardly deflecting attaching tongues I3 integral with the supporting member I I.

In order to increase the flexibility and conformability of the attaching and supporting member or disc H, it is preferably formed with a series of rad ally disposed slots I4 providing a series of yielding resilient substantially radially disposed tongues or fingers I5 arranged around the supporting disc H. This structure of the attaching and supporting disc II provides a flexibility thereof enabl ng it to conform substantially to the inner surface of the domed portion 5 of the end closure member and to form therewith a tight sealing closure.

In order to increase the sealing and anti-sift qualities of the inner closure member. a sealing member or disc I6 of suitable sealing material such as paperboard, fiberboard, plastic or the like is interposed between the attaching and supporting member II and the inner surface of the domed portion 5 of the end c osure wall or plate. This sealing disc I6 is also provided with a centrally disposed opening through which extends the attachment for the outside operating member later described. When in assemb ed condition as shown in Fig. 3, the attaching and supporting plate or disc II is outwardly domed or dished to conform substa ntially to the inner surface of the domed portion 5. and the sealing member I6 is correspondin ly dished so as to make a tight joint substantially over its entire surface and over the entire inner surface of the domed portion 5 with w ich it is in contacting relation. The sealing member I6 as sho n extends entirely over the elongated slot 9 to provide therefor an effective seal.

For the purpose of operating or moving the inner closure member Ill an exterior operating member or handle I1 is mounted on the o tside of the domed portion 5 extending over and e tirely covering the elongated slot 9 and pre erably being shaped at its inner surface to conform to said domed portion and to engage in sliding relation with said outer surface. This operating member I! may be of any desired ornamental design and of such shape as to form a convenient handle for engagement by the user to o erate the dispensing closure. At its inner side the operating member I! is formed with an attaching device preferably as shown in the form of an integral extension or stem I8 adapted to extend through the attaching opening or slot 9 in the end closure plate 3 and through the central openings of the sealing disc and the inner attaching and supporting member I I. This operating member I! together with its integral attaching stem I8 may be constructed of plastic material or the like. The attaching tongues I3 on the supporting plate II are positioned so that the free swinging ends thereof engage and bite into or are embedded into the outer side surfaces of the attaching stem I8 as best seen in Fig. 3, said ends being provided with sharp corners or with sharp points for this purpose. When the attaching stem and the supporting plate are forced into assembled relation as shown in Fig. 3, the free swinging ends of the tongues engage and bite into the surface of the attaching stem so as to hold the operating member I1 and the supporting plate II firmly in assembled position. The attaching opening 9 is preferably in the form of an elongated slot in which the attachin stem I8 closely engages so as to support the inner closure member ID for opening and closing sliding movements. The slot or attaching opening 9 is of sufiicient longitudinal length to permit the closure member ID to move from its normally closed position shown in Fig. 3 into open position for opening the dispensing opening 8. The attaching stem I 8 engages closely with thelongitudinaledges of the slot 9 so as to support and guide the opening and closing movements of the closure member I0 and connected parts.

For the purpose of urging the closure member ID into its closed position an inner operating spring may be provided. This operating spring is shown in the form of a leaf spring I9 having one end 20 thereof seated and supported in the peripheral groove 1 formed in the upper end closure plate. At its opposite end 2I the spring I9 is formed with an opening 22 hooked over a supporting lu 23 integral with the supporting member or disc II so as to provide a pivotal connection with said disc. This pivotal connection provides for free relative movements between the spring and the attaching and supporting disc II so as to avoid any binding or obstruction during the opening and closing movements of the closure member Ill. The pivotally attached end of the spring I9 is bent or deflected upwardly as shown, thus providing a hook-like attachment for attaching the spring to the supporting plate II so that the spring may be readily detached from operative position and is easily placed in operative position. The spring is normally stressed so as to urge the closure member I0 into its fully closed position as shown in Fig. 3 and is placed under additional stress when the closure member is moved to open the dispensing opening 8.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be understood that the inner closure member I0 is maintained in its tight sealing condition by the attaching stem I8 which engages with the attaching tongues I3. Also, it will be understood that the closure member is urged by the spring I9 into fully closed position as shown in Fig. 3. When it is desired to dispense a portion of the container contents, the user exerts pressure to the left in Fig. 3 on the operating member I I, thus moving or sliding the closure member I6 against the resistance of the spring I9 into position to open the dispensing opening 8. Upon release of the pressure upon the member I1, the closure member automatically returns by action of the spring I9 into its closed position where it is retained by action of the spring. Due to the pivotal connection between the spring I9 and the plate II, there is a free adjusting action preventing any binding or resistance to the opening and closing movements.

In case it is desired to operate the closure I0 manually for both opening and closing movements thereof, the operating spring I9 may readily be disconnected by unhooking the pivotal connection 22, 23 and removing the opposite end 20 of the spring from its seat in the groove I, where upon the operator can move the closure member manually in either direction for opening and closing the closure member. With this arrangement the closure member will be held-in its open" or closed position by the frictional engagement of the sealing disc 86 with the inner surface of the end wall and by the frictional engagement of the operating member H with the outer surface thereof, said operating member being somewhat wider than the width of the attaching slot 9 so as to overlap the end plate adjacent to, the edges of the slot. As described and shown it will be seen that the operating member l1 extends entirely over the elongated slot 9 in all of its operative positions so as to form an outer anti-sift joint, and that the inner sealing member It extends entirely over this elongated slot in all operative positions of the. closure member so as to provide an inner anti-sift joint. Also the attaching stem ldfits closely in the opening in the sealing member it so as. tov avoid sifting of the powder. In this manner objectionable sifting of the powder through the closure device is effectively avoided. This anti-sift structure is substantially the same in the other disclosed embodiment of the invention which will now be described.

Referring to the modified embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, certain features thereof are similar to the embodiment described above, and corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals with the addition of the index a. In this embodiment the inner attaching and supporting member or plate 5 la is formed as an integral extension of the operating spring lfia instead of being made in the form of a separate unit as in the prior embodiment. Therefore, it will be seen that the pivotal connection 22, 23 of the prior embodiment is omitted and that the spring Mia is connected directly to the attaching stem I'Sa of the operating member Ha by means of the attaching tongues liia which are integral with the end portion of the spring. These attaching tongues secure the parts in assembled relation by biting into the surface of the stem 83a as described in connection with the prior embodiment. The attaching and supporting portion lid of the spring bears direotly against the inner surface of the sealing member or disc ifia so as to hold the latter in tight sealing relation with the inner surface of the domed part 5a of the end closure plate 3a, the sealing disc being warped or dished to conform to said domed part. The end of the spring opposite to the closure member Hid may, as in the other embodiment, be seated and supported in the inner groove la of the end closure plate. In this embodiment, the powder or other container contents are dispensed through a series of dispensing openings 8a in the domed portion of the end plate which are opened and closed by the movements of the closure member in. As in the prior embodiment, the spring Isa is tensioned so as to move the closure member into its closed position following an opening movement thereof and to hold it in closed position until it is desired to open it again. In this embodiment the operating spring Isa is intended to remain permanently in its operative position for eilecting automatic closure of the closure member. The operation of this embodiment in other respects will be clear from the description above of the other illustrative embodiment.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawing shall be in-v terpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having thus been fully described,

' the following is claimed:

1*. Ina container closure, in combination, a wall portion having a dispensing opening and an attaching opening and being outwardlydomed and having an interior seat, an inner closure member mounted for opening and closing movements with reference'to said dispensing opening and conforming approximately to said domed Wall portion, said inner closure member including an inner attaching and supporting member and,

a sealing member interposed between said wall. portion and said inner attaching and supporting member, an exterior operating member having operating connection in said attaching opening with said closure member, and a leaf spring having one end mounted in said seat of said wall portion and having its opposite end forming an integral extension of said attaching and supporting" plate, said spring being stressed to urge said closurem mber into closing position.

2. In a container closure, in combination, a wall portion having a dispensing opening and having also an elongated slot forming an attaching opening, an inner closure member mounted for bodily sliding opening and closing movements with reference to said dispensing opening and including an inner attaching and supporting member and a sealing member interposed between said wall portion and said inner attaching and supporting member and extending in anti-sift sealing relation entirely over said elongated slot in all operative positions of said closure member, said inner attaching and supporting member engaging said sealing member to hold it in sealing relation over said elongated slot and against the inner surface of said wall portion, an exterior operating member slidably engaging the outer surface of said wall portion and overlying said elongated slot and extending entirely thereover so as to form an anti-sift seal therefor in all operative positions of said operating member and of said inner closure member, said exterior operating member having an attaching stem extending through said slot and. supported and guided therein for sliding movements longitudinally thereof during the bodily sliding opening and closing movements of said inner closure member, said attaching stem also extending through an opening in said sealing member and through said inner attaching and supporting member and operatively connected to the latter so as to impart sliding opening and closing movements to said closure member.

3. In a container closure, in combination, a wall portion having a dispensing opening and having also an elongated slot forming an attaching opening, an inner closure member mounted for bodily sliding opening and closing movements with reference to said dispensing opening and including an inner attaching and supporting member and a sealing member interposed between said wall portion and said inner attaching and supporting member and extending in anti-sift sealing relation entirely over said elongated slot in all operative positions of said closure member, said inner attaching and supporting member engaging said sealing member to hold it in sealing relation over said elongated slot and against the inner surface of said wall portion, an exterior plastic operating member slidably engaging the outer surface of said wall portion and overlying said elongated slot and extending entirely thereover so as to form an antisift seal therefor in all operative positions of said operating member and of said inner closure member, said exterior operating member having an attaching stem integral therewith and extending through said slot and supported and guided therein for sliding movements longitudinally thereof during bodily sliding opening and closing movements of said inner closure member, 10

said attaching stem also extending through an opening in said sealing member and through said inner attaching and supporting member which is provided with a deflectible attaching tongue integral therewith and having a free end positioned for biting into said attaching stem in holding relation therewith so as to hold said attaching and supporting member in assembled relation and to maintain said sealing member in tight sealing relation and to impart bodily sliding opening and closing movements to said closure member, said wall portion being crimped to form an interior groove, and a leaf spring underlying said inner closure member and operatively con- 8 nected thereto and having one extremity seated in said interior groove to support said spring in operative position.

ROBERT NYDEN. HARRY K. DICKERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 758,309 Fletcher Apr. 26, 1904 1,157,537 Hess Oct. 19, 1915 1,668,657 Reutter May 8, 1928 1,668,658 Reutter May 8, 1928 1,720,551 Heiter July 9, 1929 2,394,942 Smith et a1 Feb. 12, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 527,169 France July 20, 1921 546,074 France Aug. 10, 1922 

